Refrigerator partition structure



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1946 .g FM 5 w loo. N G

d plr-L E, a x

l o 4 m c 9 a 1 m F Oct. 28, 1952 sw N' 2,615,592

REFRIGERATOR PARTITION STRUTURE Filed Jan. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-$heet 2 Oct. 28, 1952 sw 2,615,592

REFRIGERATOR FARTITION STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 S me/Mo@ Ena@ Swat mafia Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR' PARTITIN 'STRUCTURE Enoch Swedna, St. Paul, Minm ass'ignor to Seeger Refriger'ato'r Company, a

Minnesota corporation of 8 Clains. I

My invention relates to an improvement in refrigerator partition structure wherein it is de-` sired to provide a simple and 'eective series of partition formin'g elements by means of which the interior of a freezing cabinet may be divided; In the manufactu're of freeing units' used' for the storage of frozen oods and the like some difficulty is experienced in storing various types of foods so that they may be readily located; This is particularly true the well type of cabinet which is often filled with small packages of frozen food products or the like. It sometimes occurs that the particular package desired* is near the bottom of the cabinet, making it usually' necessary to remove much of the contents of the cabinet before locating the particular product desired. In inserting products into the refriger ator and in removing them` from time to timeto gain access to other frozen' products stored in the lower portion of the cabinet the various packages often get mixed up and misplaced, making it extremely difficult to find any particular package'.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a partition structure which is adjustable in size and in position within the 'refrigerator cabinet body. As' a result storagewells of various sizes and shapes may be formed to accommodate paokages of difierent sizes. Furthermore; products of similar nature may be maintained in one, denite portion of the refrigerator body, making all of the contents of the refrigerator easy to find when necessary; h i

A further feature of the present invention re-' sides in providing an adjustable partition forming structure for the lower portion of the cabinet body and in providing rmovableand slidably supported baskets for containing other products in the upper portion of the cabinet body. As a result any of the products within the rfrigerator may be quickly found and quickly removed without the iecess'it'y' of removing much of the contents of the' body. v

A further feature of the" present inveti resides' in the provision of an adjustab'le partitio' structure for use' in the lower portion of' a refrigerator cabinet body and iri thej provision 'of a-plurality of baskets supported in t1ie` upper portion of the cabinet' body. These baskets are slidably supported so that they may'be moved from one position to another. The" baskets are of such a size `as to not' entirely fill the upp'er portion of the refrigerator, making it possible to' slide the baskets in either dire'ctiontogain' access' to frozen products' stored' in any part of the lower portion of the refr'igerator.-

A feature of the present-intentionliesin the 2 provision of a partitin wall removably supported on the floor of the refrigerator compartment and a second partition member which ma'y be remov ably fastened to the first partition to extend 'at right angles thereto. As a result e. T-shape'd partit'ion member is form'ed which may divide' 'one end of the lower portion of the refrigerator into two compartments which are 'adjustable in size.

A 'feature of the present invention resides in the invention will be more clearly and fully set v forth in the following specificatio'n and cliihs.

In the drawings forming ta part of the specification: i

Figure 1 is' a perspective View of a refrigerator of the well. type, a portion of which has been broken away to show the partition structure therein;

Figura 2 is a perspective View of one of the baskets supported within the'refrigerator body.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of oneof the partitionforming members used in the lower portion ofthe refrigerator body:

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a second partition forming member for the lower portion of the refrigerator body.

Figure 5 is a perspectiveview of a tray which is supported at the top of the refrigerator body.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a rubber bumper whih is mounted upon the partition frining members to hold themembers in place and t prevent-injury to the linirig of the cabinet.

The rfrigratr cabinet A, illustrateci in ig- 1 of' the drawi'rig is typical of a well tybe freezer rr which the partitio forming-` irieinbers are most' sitd. The refrigrator cbit A incudes rsuateu bottoniw liLiiisulted end walls H and' z', ari insiltd rar wall 3`, and insulatd front wall not illustrated in the draw ings. The w'alls'l l-,'l2 and l3, togetherwith'the front wall form an open topp'ed cabinet of the' well type, which has been found extremely emcientand efeotive for-freezihg purposes. In the particular 'cabinet illustratedthe' Compartment [4 is provided for the compressor and mechanical agp'aratii`s-` necessary to refrigefat the cabinet. The compartment !4 in the structure illustrated is uninsulated and is formed by extending the wall !5 upwardly from the bottom wall at a point spaced from the end wall !2, and in providing an insulated elevated bottom wall !6 connecting the wall to the wall !2.

As is usual with such structures the cabinet body preferably includes a metallic outer covering member 1 and a metallic inner liner !9. Insulation material 20 is provided between the inner and outer walls. A non-metallic breaker strip 2! of rubber or other suitable material connects the inner and outer walls so as to restrict the passage of heat into the refrigerator body.

A cover 22 is hinged at 23 to therear cabinet wall !3. The cover 22 is usually provided with an outer metallic covering 24, an inner metallic covering 25, and insulation 26 between these coverings. A gasket strip 2'! forms a breaker strip between the inner and outer coverings to restrict the passage of heat into the cabinet.

Because of the depth of the refrigerator cabinet A, difiiculty might sometimes be experienced in locating a package placed near the bottom of the cabinet unless the position of the package was definitely known. In many such cabinets, it is common practice to merely lay wrapped packages one upon the other in the cabinet making it necessary to remove all of the uppermost packages, or many of the same in order to gain access to certain of the packages at the bottom of the cabinet. It is this difiiculty which the present invention is designed to eliminate.

With reference now to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that a partition element B is provided which is of proper length to fit between the front and rear walls of the refrigerator to form a, partition between the ends of the cabinet. The partition member B includes an inverted substantially U-shaped frame 29 which includes an upper transverse member 30 and a pair of substantially parallel uprights 3! and 32. A pair of generally parallel feet 33 are secured to the lower extremity of the vertical supports 3! and 32 so as to hold the rame 29 in an upright position. The lower ends of the uprights 3! and 32 diverge to some extent at 34 and 35, respectively, so that the feet 33 may be positioned in close contact with the front and rear cabinet walls, while the major portion of the uprights 3! and 32 may be spaced slightly therefrom.

A series of transversely extending rods or wires 36 connect the uprights 3! and 32 to stifien the structure and also assist in forming a partition wall. The wires or rods 36 are spot welded or otherwise terminally aixed to the uprights 3! and 32. A series of substantially parallel vertical rods or wires 3'! are connected between the transverse member 30 of the frame 29 and the lowermost transverse rod 36. The vertical rods or wires 3'! are spot welded or otherwise arfixed in place and may be spot welded to the intersecting rods 36 to form a firm structure. It will be seen that the partition member B thus provides a Wall for retaining packages or boxes in a certain area of the cabinet without forming any appreciable bar to the free circulation of air through the cabinet.

Near the top of each of the uprights 3! and 32 is provided a rubber bumper C. This bumper is formed as best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawngs and comprises merely a substantially rectangular block 39 of rubber or other suitable resilient material having an opening 40 or aperture extending therethrough. The body 39 is slit at 4! from one edge of the body to the aperture 40 so that theslit side of the bumper may be spread apart to allow the bumper to be attached to the uprights. The upright ts snugly within the aperture 40 when the bumper is in place.

In Figure 3 of the drawings is disclosed a partition forming element D which is used in combinetion with the partition forming element B. In preferred form the partition D comprises an inverted subs-tantially U-shaped frame 42 comprising a transverse top member 43 and a pair of substantially parallel upright frame sides 44 and 45. In the Construction illustrated the arm 44 is somewhat longer than the upright 45 as the upright 44 is designed to extend down into engagement with the front of the compartment while the upright side 45 terminates in spaced relation to the front.

A series of rods or wires 46 ex-tend between the upright sides 44 and 45 and are terminally connected thereto by spot welding or any other suitable means. A series of vertically extending rods or wires 4'! extend from the transverse member 43 to the lowermost rod 46 and are spotwelded or otherwise affixed terminally t these elements. Thus a grid structure is formed of crossed rods or wires which are supported by the frame 42 and which may be spot welded at their intersections if desired.

A pair of attaching clips 49 are provided on the upright 45. These clips 49 include a substantially flat plate-like body having a pair of hook shaped tongues 50 extending in spaced relation from the upper edge thereof. These hook shaped tongues 50 are designed to hook over certain of the transverse rods 36 of the partition B to hold the partition D at right angles to the partition B. The spacing of the tongues 50 permits the hooks to engage opposite sides of one of the upright rods 31 of the partition B. As a result .the partition D may be securely attached to the partition B by merely hooking the attaching clips 49 of the partition D onto .the rods 35 of the partition B.

It will be noted that when the partitions B and D are attached they form a T-shaped partition structure which is capable of dividing either end of the refrigerator cabinet into two separate compartments. The relative size of the -two Compartments may be readily adjusted by changing the position of the partition D or the partition B. In preferred form the cabinet A is provided with two of the partitions B and two or more of the partitions D so that both ends of the cabinet may be divided into the requisite number of separate compartments. With such an arrangement a space is provided between the two partitions B, which in itself forms an additional compartment.

The baskets E `for supporting food products and the like in the upper portion of the cabinet body are preferably constructed as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The baskets E include a top frame 5! which is of rectangular shape as viewed from above, but which includes ends which are substantially above the plane of the sides. The frame 5! includes a pair of substantially parallel sides 52 which terminate in upwardly extending ofi-sets 53 and 54 repectively. The vertical oli-sets 53 and 54 are connected by end connecting members 55.

A series of substantially parallel U-shaped rods 56 form the ends of the basket E. These U-shaped rods 56 each include an end upright 51, a transverse bottom member 59, and a second vertical upright 60 parallel to the upright 51. Each of the uprights terminate in an outr bers 58 at right angles.

nam-!2592 wardly extendi ng' end. Each upright 51 is *prcvided with an outwardly extending end Bl, while each upright se terminates in an outwardly extending end 62. The ends 6l are connected together and to the end 55 of the frame 5I by means of a U-shaped 'rod 63. The -U-shaped rod 63 is terminally connected to the end `'55 of the frame 5! and is connected -at spaced points throughout its length to the spaced ends lil of the U-shaped basket-body forming members-55.

The ends 62 of the upright 60 are likewise connected to each `other and to the end 55 *of the frame 51 by the U-shaped rod 64. This 'rod 64 is terminally connected to the end frame member 55 and is connected at spaced points throughout its length 'to the various ends 62 of the basket body 'forming `members '55.' As a result the basket is provided with a frame `5I of a size to fit within the breaker strip 21 of the cabinet A, while the 'ends of 'the 'body forming members 56 form outwardly extending flanges which are designed to rest upon the surface of the breaker strip Z'I.

The basket E is provided with a series of U- shaped strips 65 which cross the U-shaped mem- The rods 65 each include substantially parallel Vertical sides 66 and 61 which are connected at their -lowerextremity by transverse bottom forming members 69.

Thus the basket body includes a series of U- shaped members extending from opposite sides *and opposite ends of the 'frame 51 and which cross at right angles to form the bottom of the basket.

The sides of the basket are reinforoed by recculation of air and -at the same time properly hold the products desired.

In Figures 1 and 5 of the drawingsis disclosed a tray F which may be used in conjunction with the basket The'tray F includes a rectangular bottom panel 'H having 'side walls V 1 2 and an -encircling flange 13.- The bottom panel '12 may include stifiening ribs 14 if desired. The walls 72 are of proper dimension to fit within the breaker strip 2I at the top of the cabinet A. Thus when the tray is in place the end portions 15 and 16 of the flange 13 rest upon the upper surface of the breaker strip 2! and are supported thereby. Spaced off-sets T! may be provided in the fianges 15 and 16 if desired to hold the major portion of the fianges spaced above the breaker strip. Thus the tray F may be readily slid along the top of the refrigerator into any desired position. The tray may serve to hold certain products contained within the refrigerator. This tray, however, is of particular value in supporting packages removed from any of the refrigerator compartments, either to be removed from the refrigerator or to be replaced therein. Thus if one of the compartments is used to hold frozen Vegetables of two or three different types, the packages may be placed upon the tray F temporarily until the desired type of Vegetable is located. The packages on the tray may then be returned to their proper position in the refrigerator. Similarly the tray F may be used to support packages to be removed from the refrigerator and may provide a convenient carrying tray for these packages.

The operation of the partition forming structure is believed obvious from 'the .oregoing -:de-

scription. The' partitions B and D .may be assembled to provide compartments of any desired relative size at either end of the cabinet. 'In Figurefl the two partitions Band two partitions .D are used .to divide the bottom of :the

hasthe advantage therefore that the upper surface of the breaker strip forms a slipperysurface over which the fianges of the tray and baskets may slide.

'In accordance 'with the patent statutes, "I

:have describedthe principles 'of construction 'and operation of my refrigerator partition structure,

and while IhaVe endeavored to set forth "the best embodiment'thereof, I desire to have it'un- :derstood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims'with'- out departing from the 'spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. Apartition forming structure for arefrigerator *ca-binet having a bottom panel and encircling rectangularly arranged walls, the structure comprising an upright foraminous wall slidably supported on the cabinet bottom panel, wall supporting feet engageable with opposed cabinet walls at the base of said foraminous -wall slidably supported on the cabinet bottom panel extending at substantially right angles 'to the 'plane of the foraminous wall, and rubber bumper *means secured to 'the edges of said foraminous wall `to space the same from the refrigerator cabinet walls.

2. 'A partition structure-for a refrigerator compartment comprisingan inverted substantially 'U'-'shaped frame, feet extending from 'the lower end of said frame to support the same in upright position, a series of transversely extending rods connecting opposite sides of said frame, a series of vertically extending rods connecting the top of said frame and said transversely extending rods, and rubber bumper means secured to opposite sides of said frame near the top thereof.

3. A compartment structure for a refrigerator including a pair of partition forming elements, the first of said elements comprising a wall including a frame, a pair of transversely extending feet on said frame to support the frame in an upright position, wire rod means extending between opposite ends of said frame, the second of said partition forming elements comprising a frame having a foot on one end thereof and hook means on the other end thereof, said hook means being designed for engagement with the transversely extending wire rod means of the first rame.

4. A compartment structure for a refrigerator including a pair of partition walls, the first of said walls comprising a frame and a means thereon to support the frame in an upright position, transversely extending rods extending in parallel relation between opposite ends of said frame, the second partition wall including a frame having a foot on one end thereof and a pair of hooks on 7 4 the other end thereof, said hooks being designed to engage said parallel rods of said first partition wall.

5. A compartment structure for a refrigerator including a first partition wall including a frame means supporting said frame in an upright position, horizontally extending wire rod means extending between the ends of said frame, and Vertically extending rod means in said frame intersecting said first named rod means. the second partition wall including a second frame, a foot on one end of said second frame, and bifurcated hook means on the other end of said second frame designed to adjustably and removably engage said rod means, said bifurcated hook means being designed to engage said horizontally extending rod means and to straddle one of said vertically extending rod means.

6. A compartment forming structure for a refrigerator including a partition wall, means for holding said partition wall in a Vertical position. said partition wall including a frame, a pair of horizontally extending wire rods extending between opposite ends of said frame, a series of vertically extending wire rods intersecting said first named wire rods, a second partition wall including a second frame, a foot at one end of said second frame, and a pair of bifurcated hooks on the other end of said second frame, said bifurcated hooks being designed to adjustably engage said horizontally extending wire rods and .to straddle a vertically extending wire rod.

7. A compartment orming structure for a refrigerator having a bottom panel and angularly arranged encircling wall panels Secured marginally thereto, two of the wall panele being opposed and parallel, the structure including a partition wall of a length to fit between said parallel walls, right angularly extending feet at each end of said partition wall and designed to slidably support the partition wall upon the bottom panel of the refrigerator near the junctures thereof with said parallel wall panels, the feet being of suicient length to engage against said parallel walls when said partition wall is twisted substantially out of right angular relation with said parallel walls, the right angularly extending feet being connected to the partition wall by outwardly inclined legs.

8. A compartment forming structure for a refrigerator having a bottom panel and angularly arranged encircling Wall panels Secured marginally thereto, two of the wall panels being opposed and parallel, the structure including a partition Wall of a length to fit between said parallel walls, right angularly extending feet at each end of said partition wall and designed to slidably support the partition wall upon the bottom panel of the refrigerator near the junctures thereof with said. parallel wall panele, the feet being of suificient length to engage against said parallel walls when said partition wall is twisted substantially out of right angular relation with said parallel walls, a second partition wall engageable with said first named partition wall to extend parallel to the parallel refrigerator walls, the second partition wall having hook means at one end engageable with the first partition wall for support thereby, and a leg at the other end resting upon the refrigerator bottom panel.

ENOCH SWEDMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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